Regional Sports
November 1, 2012, The Bridgton News, Page C
FA left feeling blue Blazes grind out playoff win
By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer WESTBROOK — Facing an offensive juggernaut, it is never good to be missing key players. With two starters already out, Fryeburg Academy was unable to weather the loss of additional key players during a critical second quarter during Saturday’s playoff game against second-seed Westbrook. The Blue Blazes left the Raiders in a haze by halftime and rolled to a 34-8 victory to advance in the Class B West playoffs. Westbrook (7-2) will meet York this Saturday. The Wildcats pummeled Mountain Valley, 43-0 Friday night. Junior halfback Collin Joyce rushed for 135 yards on 14 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 14 and 35 yards to power the Blue Blazes potent ground game to 317 yards. Fryeburg Academy finishes the year at 4-5. It was the team’s first playoff appearance since 2007. “You saw on both lines of scrimmage, they were more stout. We rarely got to their second level. They figured with Andrew (Rascoe) out they
could play more man defense and stack the line,” FA Coach David Turner said. “It often comes down to 1-on-1 battles at the line, and they won those.” Fryeburg caught a break early when senior corner Kyle Bonner, who was battling a hamstring injury, intercepted a pass along the far sideline at the FA-15, ending a 10-play opening drive for the Blazes. Unfortunately, the big break was short lived. Fryeburg had trouble with reserve quarterback Billy Rascoe making a pitch, resulting in a fumble and a recovery by Westbrook’s David Breunig at the FA-14. Joyce scored on the next play, slipping several tackle tries along the right side, to scamper 14 yards for the score. FA’s Ryan Buzzell tipped away the two-point conversion pass with 7:23 left in the first quarter. “Any time you get a stop against a powerful offensive team — they (Westbrook) put up 50 against York — you hope then that the very least you do is punt the ball, that’s the worst case scenario. Unfortunately, we gave them the ball right
back,” Coach Turner said. “You hope can win the turnover battle and convert them into points. Obviously, they were better at that today than we were.” The Raiders regrouped and engineered a four-minute drive, which moved the ball from the FA-38 to the W-36. But, the effort fizzled when three passes sailed over receivers’ heads. Fryeburg would move into Westbrook territory to start the second quarter, courtesy of a pass interference penalty — the Blue Blazes had a whooping 160 penalty yards on 17 flags — but the Raiders were unable to convert on a third down as Devine Dockery, who had a 200 yard game against Westbrook in the first meeting — was tossed back for a yard loss, forcing a punt. Dockery saw little daylight all afternoon as the Blue Blazes defense limited the FA senior to just 27 yards on 15 carries. Westbrook defenders swarmed to the ball carrier, often unloading hard shots. A fumble recovery by Dockery at 8:08 stopped the next Westbrook possession,
OUT OF ACTION — Fryeburg Academy quarterback Billy Rascoe feels the pain of a Westbrook hit following a second half carry in Saturday’s playoff game. Rascoe was forced to the bench. He receives medical attention here from FA athletic trainer, Jen Verrill. but the Blue Blazes finally pieced together a scoring drive behind a spark from junior quarterback Kyle Heath. Heath pulled off a nifty fake hand-off inside, which seemed to freeze FA defenders, and then darted outside for WESTBROOK, Page C
Blazes 34 Raiders 8 19
CHASING DOWN A LOOSE BALL — Westbrook running back Collin Joyce looks to recover a fumbled ball before Raider defenders Ian MacFawn (left) and Tanner Wentworth close in during first quarter action Saturday. The Blue Blazes rolled to a 34-8 victory.
DIVING CATCH — FA receiver Jake Thurston hauls in a two-point conversion pass and just lands on the goal line during the fourth quarter against Westbrook in the first-round of the Class B West playoffs.
First Downs: FA 10, WK
Penalties: FA 4-30, WK 17-160 Rushing: FA 31-59, WK 46-317 Passing: FA 6-19-60, WK 5-11-79 Total offense: FA 119, WK 396 FA Rushing: Devine Dockery 15-27, Billy Rascoe 11-34, Ben Southwick 4(9), Jake Thurston 1-7. FA Passing: Ryan Buzzell 2-8, Bright Amoako 3-49, Jake Thurston 1-3. Tackles (solo, assist, total): Kyle Bonner 33-6, Devine Dockery 2-3-5, Andrew Lyman 2-1-3, Sulo Burbank 04-4, Kevin Reardon 4-37, Zach Sheehan 5-4-9, Bright Amoako 2-2-4, Ian MacFawn 5-1-6, Ryan Buzzell 3-2-5, Jake Thurston 1-0-1, Billy Rascoe 1-0-1, Cody Loewe 2-2-4, Willy MacFawn 10-1, Greg Sargent 0-1-1, Winston Richards 1-1-2, Nicholis L’Hereux-Carland 0-1-1, Kyle Provencher 10-1, Joe Slattery 1-0-1. Interception: Kyle Bonner Fumble Recovery: Devine Dockery
Leland in playoffs; Hartford returns Tavish Leland of Bridgton was recognized on Senior Day as the Elms College men’s soccer team’s only senior. During his four-year collegiate career, Tavish scored 15 goals and had 11 assists for the Blazers. A four-year starter, his 41 career points place Tavish sixth on the Elms’ all-time list. During his junior year, he had nine goals and nine assists, resulting in a Second Team All-New England Collegiate Conference selection for the second time. Tavish plays forward. Located in Chicopee, Mass., Elms entered the NECC tournament as the third-seed after compiling an 8-7-2 overall record and a 4-2-1 conference mark. The Blazers were scheduled to meet sixthseed Southern Vermont College on Wednesday. Elms defeated SVC in their only meeting, 4-1. Tavish is a sociology/criminal justice major, and is the son of Dagny and Dan Leland of Bridgton. Hartford to play against BA Lake Region grad Alex Hartford and his
Southern Maine Community College men’s basketball team will play at Bridgton Academy on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. SMCC is currently 2-0 with 81-60 victory over St. Thomas and 91-46 win over Dalhousie at the Can-Am Tournament held at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. Hartford had 10 points and seven rebounds against Dalhousie and 8 points and five rebounds against St. Thomas. At 6-foot-2, Hartford is a starter as a freshman. The game will be the season opener for Coach Whit Lesure’s Bridgton Academy Wolverines. “This will likely to be a pretty competitive game,” Coach Lesure said. “I’m pleased for Alex that he is continuing to play ball at the college level, and while I did not get to know him in the way I had the opportunity to work with Matt (Langadas) and Derek (Mayo), I know that his continuing success demonstrates to the young guys in this community what passion for the game of basketball can bring you.”
BRIGHT WINS THE BATTLE — Raider receiver Bright Amoako (left) was able to gain possession of this pass from back-up quarterback Ben Southwick and then made several nifty moves to score a 35-yard touchdown. (Rivet Photos)
I’VE GOT YOU — Fryeburg defensive back Kyle Bonner prevents a Westbrook player from scoring by grabbing hold of the runner’s ankle.
Lake Region fall sports All-Conference selections Lake Region varsity fall athletes named to Western Maine All-Conference teams include: Field Hockey: Lucy Fowler, first team; Kristina Morton and Kayleigh Lepage, second team. Girls’ Soccer: Sydney Hancock, first team. Golf: Adam Falk, WMC champion.
Harlem Rockets to play LR Dream Team Nov. 14
Tavish Leland Senior forward at Elms
The Harlem Rockets will take on the Laker Dream Team on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the high school gymnasium. Advanced tickets are $7 and can be purchased by calling Judy Morin at LRHS at 693-6221, ext. 231. Tickets sold at the door will be $8. Proceeds benefit the Lake Region girls’ basketball program.